Signal device



Feb. 14, 1939 1.. -RITTENHOUSE SIGNAL DEVICE Filed Ndv. is, 1937 f Lloyd Rz 'ttenhouse INVENTOR.

. ATTORNEY.

Patented Feb. 14, 1939 SIGNAL DEVICE Lloyd Rlttenhouse, Honeoye Falls, N. Y., asslgnor to The A. E. Rittenhouse 00., Inc., Honeoye Falls, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application November 18, 1937, Serial No. 175,296

6 Claims.

This invention relates to a signal device, of the general type used in homes, to take the place of the conventional door bell and give an indication when someone is at a door, or for other similar purposes, which include electrically operated striker operating mechanism in coniunction'with a vibratable plate or chime that is struck and gives the desired signal upon the closing of an electric circuit to the electro-magnet or other operating means.

One object of the invention is to afiord a simple and practical design for removably. supporting a vibratable plate or chime bar so that the latter can be packed and shipped separately, and quick ly assembled on its supporting instrumentalities when the signal is installed.

A further purpose of the invention is to afford a simple construction that can be economically manufactured, is efficient and dependable in its operation, and will permit the quick and ready positioning or removal of-the vibratable plate or chime bar upon its supporting means.

Another object of the invention is to afford a compact arrangement that is neat and ornate in its appearance and which can be conveniently secured in place on a wall or suitable support.

To these and other ends, the invention consists in the construction and arrangement of parts that will appear clearly from the following description when read in conjunction with the acparts throughout the several views, I designates a housing, closed at the bottom and open at the 4 top as shown, affording a resonance chamber within which is located electrically operated striker operating means, preferably in the form of an electro-magnet 2 and a vertically movable striker 3, which moves upwardly under the implate or bar to give the required signal.

At the top. of the housing l, secured to one side .thereof, is a supporting plate 4, which maybe attached in any desired manner to a wall or base, 55 and which'is provided with terminals or binding pulse of the electro-magnet and strikes a chime.

following claims.

posts 5 from which conductors lead to the electromagnet 2.

, in operative position. The vibratable plate or chime bar is indicated at 8 and includes transverse openings 1 located nearer to the rear edge of the plate than the front edge, as shown in Fig. 3. 10

This plate is removably positionable upon. a pair of arms secured to the supporting plate 4 and located at the ends'thereof. Each of these supporting arms includes a top horizontal portion 8 that overlies the rear portion and rear edge 01 15 the vibratable plate 8, a horizontal portion 9 the. underlies the front part of the vibratable plate 8 and extends toward its forward edge, and a vertical portion I0 that extends through the opening 1 in the plate. The supporting arms are 20 preferably encased in suitable tubes ll of rubber, and the openings I are made sufllciently larger than the diameter oi the supporting arms so that the vibratable plate can be readily tilted from the position shown in Fig. 3 toward a verti- 25 cal position to remove it from the supporting arms.

When in position, the trout or wider portion of the vibratable plate rests with its weight upon the underlying horizontal portions 9 of the arms 30 and is thus held against accidental removal, though it can be quickly and easily displaced when necessary. This has the advantage of permitting the device to be shipped with the elongated vibratable plate or bar separate from the 35 other parts, thus making 'a less bulky and more convenient package for shipping, and when the device is installed, the vibratable plate can instantly be assembled in position on the support- 0 ing arms 'In order to maintain the supporting arms on the supporting plate 4, the arms are extended through openings in the plate I and have downwardly'depending portions I2 which lie adjacent to the rear surface of the plate 4 and are fixedly secured theretoby spot-welding, soldering, or in any other convenient manner.

While the invention has been described'with reference to a particular embodiment,it is not restricted to the details herein disclosed, and this application is intended to cover any other modifications or departures that may come within the purposes of the improvement or the scope of the I claim:

1. In a signal device, the combination with striker operating means, and a vibratable plate having transverse openings therein closer to one edge, of supporting arms comprising horizontal portions which overlie the rear part and rear edge of the vibratable plate, horizontal portions which underlie the front part of the plate and extend toward its front edge, and vertical connecting portions which extend through said transverse openings in the plate, the openings being suillciently larger than the supporting arms topermit ready removal or positioning of the plate, and a striker arranged to engage said vibratable plate adjacent to a line passing through said openings.

2. In a signal device, the combination with striker operating means, of a vibratable plate having openings closer to the rear edge than to the front edge, a supporting plate, supporting arms carried by said plate and having horizontal portions which overlie the rear part of the vibratable plate, horizontal portions which underlie the front part of the plate, and connecting vertical portions which extend through said openings in the plate, the openings being sufllciently larger than the supporting arms to permit ready removal or positioning of the plate with relation thereto.

3. In a signal device, the combination with striker operating means, and a vibratable plate having openings therein, a supporting plate, supporting arms secured thereto and comprising horizontal portions which overlie said plate, horizontal portions which underlie saidplate, and vertical portions connecting said horizontal portions and extending through said openings in the vibratable plate, said openings being substantially larger than the said connecting portions of the supporting arms.

4, In a signal device, the combination with striker operating means and a supporting plate located thereabove, of supporting arms secured to said supporting plate and including upper and lower horizontal portions and connecting vertical portions, and a vibratable plate removably positionable upon the lower horizontal portions of said supporting arms, said plate including openings of greater dameter than the thickness of the supporting arms and located closer to one edge of the plate than the other whereby the plate is removably positionable on the supporting arms.

5. In a signal device, the combination with a vertically arranged elongated housing open at the top and striker operating means located within the housing, of a vertically disposed supporting plate secured to one side of the housing and extending above and laterally beyond the housing, a vibratable plate arranged horizontally above said open top of the housing and extending therebeyond, and supporting arms located at the ends of said supporting plate, the vibratable plate bein positionable horizontally on said supporting arms and removable therefrom, and a striker movable through said open top of the housing and engageable with said vibratable plate.

6. In a signal device, the combination with striker operating means and a supporting vertically arranged plate located thereabove and to one side, of supporting arms secured to said supporting plate and including upper and lower horizontal portions and connecting vertical portions, and a vibratable plate removably positionable upon the lower horizontal portions of said supporting arms, said plate including openings of greater diameter'than the thickness of the supporting arms and located closer to one edge of the plate than to the other whereby the plate is removably positionable on the supporting arms.

LLOYD RITTENHOUSE. 40 

